Slide-in camper unit

ABSTRACT

A slide-in fold up type camper unit that is easily installed in a truck trailer, van or like vehicle. The compact unit includes a food cooler, a slide-in stove and sink combination, and numerous storage drawers. The unit also includes an eating table and seat and a bed.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,823,992 Corbett July 16, 1974 SLIDE-IN CAMPER UNIT 2,219,412 10/1940 Dean 52 36 x 0 1 4 312 0 [76] Invent: James F Thlrd'Ava $1362 52 /3 6 1% Salt Lake C Utah 84107 3,289,664 12/1966 Hewitt Y 312/236 x 3,312,984 4/1967 Hagstrom 5/9 R x [22] 1972 3,553,911 1/1971 Morrow el al. 52 36 21 A l. N 2 0 I 1 pp 0 23 8 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 312 247 52 vus. c1 312/201, 312/236, 312/240, 6/1955 France I 312/272, 5/2 P E P R A 511 1m. 0.. A47b 53/00, A47b 77/08, A47b 85/00 [58] Field Of Search 312/236, 240, 272, 201;

' 5/2, 8, 9; 52/36, 79 [57] ABSTRACT A slide-in fold up type camper unit that is easily in- [56] References cued Stalled in a truck trailer, van or like vehicle. The com- UNITED STATES PATENTS pact unit includes a food cooler, a slide-in stove and 521,628 6/1894 Wilkins 312/236 X sink combination, and numerous storage drawers. The 898,153 9/1908 Stromgren et al. 312/302 unit al o includes an eating table and seat and a bed, 1,207,400 12/1916 Harris 312/272 x 1,582,346 4/1926 Oster 312/272 X 8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 33 421 56 L420 I: 420 l 5 i: I?

SLIDE-IN CAMPER UNIT BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION fort and convenience for the outdoor enthusiast.

Camper units mounted on trucks provide a limited home away from home and mobile homes enable a user to move about with full home comforts. The demands for added convenience features have resulted in larger and larger vehicles. The present invention provides a unit having many of the convenience features generally permanently incorporated into much more expensive camper and mobile home units. The unit is easily moved into or out ofa vehicle, thereby allowing the vehicle to be used, as desired, for activities other than camping. The unit is compact enough to fit easily into a pickup truck bed or in the cargo or passenger area of a small van. As a result, the owner of even a relatively small vehicle may have many of the comforts and convenience features formerly available in only much larger and much more expensive camper units or mobile homes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION provide these component assemblies and features in an inexpensive easily manipulated housing.

Another object is to provide a camper unit formed in a compact assembly that will provide a seat and table arrangement which is easily converted to form a bed.

Still another object is to provide a camper unit arranged so as to utilize all available space therein, housing component assemblies useful to the outdoor enthusiast and providing a number of drawer storagev arrangements.

Principal features of the present invention include a camper unit housing that can be easily slid onto or off of a pickup truck bed, which may be covered with a conventional sleeper top, or into and out of the cargo or passenger area of a van type vehicle, for example.

The camper unit has a food cooler positioned at one end, a drawer unit including a cook top and sink combination fitted into an appropriate opening in an opposite end.

A table that also serves as a cabinet top above the drawer unit is arranged to be mounted on top ofan upright support post such that the table is proximate to a cushioned seat formed in the center of the camper unit. The base of the support post is telescoped onto a sleeve, contained within a drawer pulled from the bottom of the camper unit when the table is to be used. When not in use, the drawer containing the sleeve is pushed into the camper unit.

The drawer unit containing the cook top and sink combination can be removed from the camper unit so that the cabinet portion in which it is inserted can be rotated into a bed forming position. Thereafter, the drawer unit can be reinserted for storage and use.

Water and gas supply tanks and a liquid catchment tank are provided in the range and sink combination drawer as is a pump arrangement to pull water from the water tank.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the slide-in camper unit of the invention;

FIG. 2, a top plan view;

FIG. 3, a rear elevation view;

FIG. 4, an end elevation view, viewed from the left of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, an elevation view of the opposite end;

FIG. 6, a top plan view showing the table positioned for use proximate the seat area and the drawer unit containing the range and sink and the other drawers of the unit pulled out slightly;

FIG. 7, a front elevation view of the unit as viewed in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8, an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section view, taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, and showing a locking mechanism for retaining a vertical drawer in a raised position;

FIG. 9, an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 7, and showing a drawer containing a table base mount;

FIG. 10, a vertical section view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11, a top plan view of the unit with the bed opened and the range and sink combination drawer unit rearranged for use; and

FIG. 12, a, fragmentary, horizontal, section view taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

FIGS. 1-5, respectively, are top, plan, front, rear and end elevation views of the camper unit 15, showing the unit in its most compact arrangement as arranged within a pickup truck bed, or like vehicle, not shown.

The camper unit 15, includes an insulated food cooler 16 mounted in a cabinet housing 17 at one end of the unit 15. Cabinet housing 17 also has a drawer 18 that extends into the housing through the face 17a thereof beneath the refrigerator and a storage drawer 19, mounted to slide into the top of cabinet housing 17, behind the food cooler 16 so as to be withdrawn vertically therefrom. As best seen in FIG. 8, a drawer locking mechanism 20 is provided to hold drawer-l9 in its lowered, closed position or in one of several raised positions protruding from the top of cabinet housing 17. The locking mechanism 20 consists ofa rod 21, extending into housing 17 and arranged to extend into which ever one of the vertically aligned holes 21a that may be positioned to receive the end of the rod. A knob 22 is provided on the end of rod 21 projecting through the front face of housing 17, and the other end 21b of the .rod is biased into one of the holes 21a by a spring 23 that surrounds the rod and acts against the inner surface of the face of housing 17 and a collar 21c fixed to rod 21. v

A seat 24 is formed in part of an upper housing portion 25 of the camper unit and has a back and seat cushion 24a arranged thereover. A storage drawer 27 is fitted into an opening in a lower housing portion 26. A second drawer 28 is fitted into another opening in the lower housing 26 beneath the seat 24 to contain, as best shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, a mount 29 that will receive a table support post 30. The mount 29 has its base 29a fixed by screws 29c to the bottom of drawer 28. The mount consists of the base 29a and a projection 2% that extends upwardly therefrom, over which an end of table support post 30 is telescoped.

Upper housing portion and lower housing portion 26 are joined together by hinges 26a and 26b. Hinges 26a and 26b, shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, are arranged to allow the upper housing portion 25 to be rotated around the hinges so that the top of housing 25 becomes the feet of a bed structure 31. A pad 32 that is normally folded and maintained between upper housing portion 25 and lower housing portion 26 is unfolded to become the mattress for bed structure 31.

As shown, a number of drawers are contained in openings provided in the ends of upper housing portion 25 and lower housing portion 26. Drawers 33 and 34, fitted into openings in lower housing portion 26 are storage drawers. A single drawer 35, fitted into an opening in upper housing portion 25, contains a cook .top and sink combination unit 36.

The drawer 35 housing the combination unit 36 is removed from the opening in the end of upper housing portion 25 prior to a rotation of the housing portion 25 into a bed structure in which attitude drawer 35 can be reinstalled in the opening housing portion 25. Combination unit 36 has a top 37 therein which has mounted thereon burners 38 and burner controlsr39, as the cook top. A sink 40 having a faucet 41 mounted thereon is secured in an opening formed in top 37. As is shown best in FIG. 11, access to components of the combination unit maintained beneath top 37 is provided through a panel 42 that is hinged along its edge 42a to top 37 and that is opened. exposing the drawer interior, by pulling on knob 42b. A burner gas supply 43, within drawer 35, is connected by a line 50, FIG. 12, to burner port post 30. Table top 54 is connected to table support post by a sleeve 55 telescoped onto the top of the support post and that is arranged to allow the table top to rotate so that one or more users have ready access to seat 24. Table support post 30 is installed, as has been described on mount 29 within drawer 28. When the combination unit 15 is consolidated for travel, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, or is arranged to form bed 31, table support post 30 is removed from mount 29, the table top 54 returned to its position in the upper housing portion 25, and the drawer 28 is pushed into the lower housing portion 26.

The drawers of the combination unit 15 are all provided with handles 56 to facilitate their movements within the openings formed in the housing of combination unit 15.

controls 39; and a waste liquid catchment tank 44 within the drawer 35 is connected by a line 45 to the drain 40a in sink 40. A fresh water supply tank 46 in drawer 35 is connected by a line 47 to a liquid pump 48, that is in turn connected by a line 49 to faucet 41. Controls 39 pass gas selectively through lines 39a or 39b to either or both burners 38a and 38b. The usual pan supports 51 are maintained on top 37 above burners 38a and 38b to support a cooking pot thereabove.

As shown best in FIG. 3, a cut out section 52 is provided to allow a vehicle wheel well to be positioned therein. A cut out section 53 is also provided at the lower portion of the back of cabinet housing 17 to pro- Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

1 claim:

1. A slide-in camper unit comprising a housing formed as two portions connected together so that one is pivotally movable from above the other to a position alongside the other, whereby the sections form a base;

means forming an opening through oneface of the pivotally movable portion and an opening through an end thereof; 7

a drawer contained cook top and sink combination unit removably fitted in the end opening in the pivotally movable portion such that said cook top and sink are turned upwardly to be exposed through the opening in one face of the pivotally movable portion when said pivotally movable portion is above the other portion and to have the drawer reversed in the end opening when the pivotally movable portion is alongside the other portion.

2. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the drawer containing the cook top and sink combination contains a burner; v

a burnable gas supply;

a line connecting said burner to said burnable gas supply;

a valve means in said line for selectively allowing passage of burnable gas from said burnable gas supply to said burner;

a sink having associated therewith a means for disposing of waste liquid; and

a means for introducing liquid into said sink.

3. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for disposing of waste liquid consists of a-drain in the sink that is connected by a liquid carryingline to a waste liquid catchment tank that is also housed in the drawer containing the cook top and sink combination.

4. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for introducing liquid into said sink consists of a faucet mounted to said sink that is connected by a liquid carrying line, through a liquid pump that is connected to a liquid supply tank housed within the drawer containing the cook top and sink combination.

5. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 1, further including at least one storage drawer arranged to fit into an opening in the housing.

6. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 5, wherein a storage drawer is fitted vertically into the top of the housing and has associated with it a catch means for releasably maintaining it in a pulled out attitude, in which attitude it projects above the top of said housing.

7. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 1, further including a table composed of a table top; a table support post;

a table support mount fastened within a drawer that table support attached thereto. 

1. A slide-in camper unit comprising a housing formed as two portions connected together so that one is pivotally movable from above the other to a position alongside the other, whereby the sections form a base; means forming an opening through one face of the pivotally movable portion and an opening through an end thereof; a drawer contained cook top and sink combination unit removably fitted in the end opening in the pivotally movable portion such that said cook top and sink are turned upwardly to be exposed through the opening in one face of the pivotally movable portion when said pivotally movable portion is above the other portion and to have the drawer reversed in the end opening when the pivotally movable portion is alongside the other portion.
 2. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the drawer containing the cook top and sink combination contains a burner; a burnable gas supply; a line connecting said burner to said burnable gas supply; a valve means in said line for selectively allowing passage of burnable gas from said burnable gas supply to said burner; a sink having associated therewith a means for disposing of waste liquid; and a means for introducing liquid into said sink.
 3. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for disposing of waste liquid consists of a drain in the sink that is connected by a liquid carrying line to a waste liquid catchment tank that is also housed in the drawer containing the cook top and sink combination.
 4. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for introducing liquid into said sink consists of a faucet mounted to said sink that is connected by a liquid carrying line, through a liquid pump that is connected to a liquid supply tank housed within the drawer containing the cook top and sink combination.
 5. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 1, further including at least one storage drawer arranged to fit into an opening in the housing.
 6. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 5, wherein a storage drawer is fitted vertically into the top of the housing and has associated with it a catch means for releasably maintaining it in a pulled out attitude, in which attitude it projects above the top of said housing.
 7. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 1, further including a table composed of a table top; a table support post; a table support mount fastened within a drawer that fits in an opening in said housing, over the bottom end of which support mount the table support post is telescoped; and a collar fastened to the undersurface of said table top that connects said table top to the top of said table support.
 8. A slide-in camper unit as recited in claim 7, wherein the collar fastened to the undersurface of said table top that joins to the table support is arranged to allow a rotation of the table top with respect to said table support attached thereto. 